Today we will be making the 2nd block of our sampler – a Railfence Variation.

Last year we made a Railfence block using three strips and today we are going to make a Railfence Variation using two strips.

BLOCK 2 – Rail Fence Variation

What you need:

Dark: 5×5″ squares

Light: 5×5″ squares

Let’s Sew:

Take the light squares and fold in half and finger press or draw a line down the centre.

Place the light square and a dark square, right sides together and sew a scant 1/4″ either side of the centre line. (better too scant than not enough)

Cut along the line between the two rows of stitching.

4. You now have a nice pile of rectangles! Take to the pressing board or ironing board and press toward the dark.

Nanny tip: If you are not confident with your measuring and cutting try this – I have put a strip of masking tape along the 2.25″ line. Why 2.25″? This is half of 4.5″ and we are going to trim our squares to 4.5″

5 Place the 2.25″ side of your rule on the dark side and you will notice how the tape butts up against the seam line.

6. Trim the squares – made easy with a 4.5″ rule, but the same process for any size rule.

7. If you are using for example, a 6.5″ rule, place the rule with the 4.5″ line along the bottom and the tape running along the seam.

8. Trim the right hand side and along the top

9. Turn it around, check that you have the 4.5″ mark both ways on the corner (see pen) and the tape running along the seam

10. Trim the right hand side

11. Lay out your squares following the photo – you will have 1 square left over.

12. Complete your 9 patch.

I hope you enjoyed the measuring and trimming – both are really important skills in quilting!

I hope you are ready and waiting for our next project – a pin cushion.

It’s amazing how many pin cushions you collect over the years and I have had fun checking mine and my sewing friend’s collections to decide on what we will make. I asked the question “What makes a good pin cushion?” The first thing we need to consider is what you will use it for – duh Nanny it’s a pin cushion!! – then how big?, what shape? (I just can’t bring myself to stick pins into an animal or bird!!) where will it go? wrist, finger, machine, table etc

I have to remind myself that this is a beginner project and so I will stick to the basics – I’m sure you will have fun making some of the decorative ones you will see as you go along on your sewing journey.. We may even get to try some of those together at a later date!!

Let’s get started.

You will need:

2 of your fabrics

1 feature fabric (can be any scrap or another of your fabrics)

Iron on Vliesofix

From your fabrics cut 2 x 6″ squares

Choose a feature piece (can be any scrap or another of your fabrics) It has to be larger than 4″ x 4″

Cut a piece of the Vliesofix about the size of the feature.

Place a piece of baking paper down on your ironing board and the the feature piece face down. Then put the Vliesofix rough side down onto the back of the feature piece.

Press.

Now trim your feature piece to 4″ x 4″

TIP: Keep your Vliesofix in a zip lock bag – it doesn’t like humidity and will separate!!

Peel the backing paper from the feature square.

Centre the feature square on one of your other squares and press.

Prepare our Machine: Today I am going to use a different foot – the Satin Stitch Foot which is used for decorative stitching and satin stitch OR the Craft Foot which is the open toed satin stitch foot used for applique.

Check your manual to see if you have one of these – if not just use your All Purpose foot!

I am going to use a different stitch also – on Betsy it is number 18 and is called the Overedge Stitch. Try to find this stitch or one similar – if you don’t have one you can use a zigzag.

This stitch is used to finish off seams but today we are going to use it to applique!

Take a scrap of fabric and try the stitch – change the length and width until you are happy with it.

Sew around the Feature square noting the side that the stitch extends to – we want those extending stitches to go onto the feature while the straight stitch goes along the edge.

It’s not quite the same as a hand stitched edge – if you are interested I could show you how to handstitch at a later time!

Take this square and your other square and with right sides together, sew around the outside (like we did in project 1), clip corners and turn right side out. (Don’t forget to leave an opening to turn through!!)

Roll between your thumbs and fingers and then press.

Stuff the pincushion, pushing well into the corners. It will need to be packed tightly.

We are going to close the seam using Ladder Stitch – think a ladder and lots of rungs!

Take a needle and a knotted thread and slide the needle through the seam allowance at the beginning of the opening.

Slide the needle along inside the seam allowance on one side to form a stitch

Then insert the needle in the other side, directly opposite the point the needle came out, and take another stitch. Repeat this for 4-5 stitches – see on my finger

Then pull the thread to close the stitches. Continue with this till the seam is closed. Finish with a double stitch and push your needle out through the pin cushion – trim.

You will have a lovely, neat finish – ideal for using when making softies!!

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